Noccalula was the beautiful daughter of an Indian Chief who promised her hand in marriage to a neighboring Chief for wampum, horses and blankets. Alas, the Princess loved a young brave and threw herself from the top of the falls denying the chief and the warrior her affections.
The Gorge Trail leading to a cavern behind the falls was a jumble of slippery, wet rocks.
The Black Creek Gorge’s walls plunged vertically from the top of both sides of the deep ravine.
The 90-foot falls were raging after recent rains and kicked up a thick mist for rainbows to play on. A charming chapel at the top of the falls was perfect for couples luckier in love than Noccalula.
A swirling cloud of water vapor behind the falls chilled the damp cavern and nurtured a slick coat of lichen on the ragged rocks I picked my way through. Experiencing the view from the backside and power of the thundering cascade was worth the wet walk and water-spotting my camera lens.
We chose a secluded spot by roaring Black Creek to eat lunch.
We walked through newly-reopened Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Alabama to access the top of the falls and the Gorge Trail leading down into the deep chasm. The Park’s Pioneer Village and Miniature Train were not in use. Attendance was sparse, making our visit more enjoyable.